![]() The optimum temperature for hibernation is 4 degrees Celsius. It means that they are neither warm nor cold and this is a very difficult situation for hibernators. Temptation to keep healthy hedgehogs in sheds or garage over winter to keep them safe from the cold is discouraged. (Should the weather become too cold hedgehogs may not bother to add extra insulation to their original nest but may go and build another one). These arousals last a day or two and, although generally unprompted, they may be caused by a disturbance or unexpectedly hot weather. Most hedgehogs seem to wake up frequently during their hibernation but rarely leave their nests. The nest itself is ramshackle in appearance but well-constructed from old dry leaves, grass and other vegetation and forms a compact dome 30-60cm in diameter with walls up to 10cm thick. Favourite sites are under hedges and roots of trees, in piles of brushwood, inside compost heaps or in old rabbit burrows and underneath timber buildings and sheds. Towards the end of autumn, hedgehogs consider the best places to build nests (called hibernacula). There also appears to be an internal readiness that brings about certain physiological changes. This is very dependent on the prevailing weather conditions and starts when the temperature in the immediate surroundings becomes and remains relatively low, which in Britain is usually November, December or even January. their heart rate decreases considerably from approximately 190 per minute to a faint 20 per minute, the body temperature, which is normally 35☌ drops to 10☌ or less and respiration almost stops (they will breath about once every few minutes). They become immobile, their bodies cool and their normal physiological activities are slowed down e.g. As the weather gets colder such food becomes more difficult to find and so they decide to slow down their use of energy. This energy comes from their food (beetles, caterpillars, worms etc ). ![]() Like all other animals, hedgehogs need energy in order to maintain normal body activities, to grow and to move about. It is not just ‘going to sleep.’ In sleep all bodily functions remain nearly normal but in hibernation the metabolism is almost at a standstill. What is it? Hibernation is a complicated and often perilous energy conservation strategy.
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